I am planning to run a scene for the What If? Switching Sides RP challenge. Noab will be a ruthless mercenary commander in this scene, set on destroying the resistance to his employer's whims. Join him to crush the enemy with savage force and underhanded tactics, or oppose him as the unlikely heroes of this backwards world.
Depending on participant wishes, we may give another try to my PDQ-ish conflict system, which worked pretty well in the Left 4 Shinobi scene despite some rough edges. I plan to run the scene this Saturday, the 7th, starting at approximately 2 PM Eastern time.
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<RP> Onimitsu says, "We'rez gonna go crazy~ :D"

<RP> Meruin can be the hero or something.

<RP> Meruin says, "For once. Sounds like fun things."

<RP> Meruin says, "May I join?"

<RP> Noab says, "I was trying to write up a primer for my Conflict Resolution System in case people wanted to try it out, it's not quite done, but what I've got left to write is advanced stuff that doesn't really have to be used this time."

Every character has a Ninja quality which describes their overall ability level as a ninja. As of this writing, a character's Ninja quality is determined by dividing their NMR stats total by 8 and rounding down. For example, a character with 47 total stats would have a Ninja quality of 5, but having 48 total stats brings them up to a Ninja quality of 6.

The Ninja quality is used as the basis for nearly all rolls in the CRS. /Before/ deciding on an action (who to attack using what technique, how to defend against an attack against you, etc.), you will do a +roll 1d(5 + Ninja quality). For example, if your Ninja quality is 4, you will type

+roll 1d9

The result from this roll will form a large part of determining your success in the action which follows. This means you'll have some idea how likely you are to succeed, and you can use that knowledge to make choices about what to try.

Basics: Technique Rank

After getting the base roll, next you decide on what type of technique to use. The techniques you can use are based on your skill level in different styles. As of this writing, a character's skill level in a style is determined by the highest-ranked skill you have in that style. For example, if Great Fireball Technique is your highest-ranking Fire Manipulation technique, you have C-rank mastery of Fire Manipulation.

The style you choose to use for your action determines your next roll. D-rank mastery gives a +roll 1d2, C-rank mastery gives a +roll 1d4, etc. It's possible to make this roll bigger by expending chakra, discussed later. The result of this roll is added to the base Ninja roll you made before.

Basics: Damage

After an attacker rolls for an attack, the target rolls for a defense using the same basic mechanics (base Ninja roll, then style roll). If the defender get greater than or equal to the attacker, the attack is successfully defended against. Otherwise, the defender takes damage. Damage is subtracted from their Ninja quality, thus reducing their ability for the remainder of the scene. Damage dealt is 1 by default, but can be increased if the attacker used chakra. If a character's Ninja quality reaches 0, they are unable to continue in the conflict.

The exact technique you perform using your style is considered largely a matter of RP fluff; all that matters mechanically is the level of mastery you have in the style and the chakra you put into the technique. The mechanical effect of techniques is the same regardless of whether their IC intent is to injure, ensnare, trick, exhaust, or gain advantage in any other way; it simply brings the target closer to being incapacitated.

CRS Primer Advanced
Advanced: Chakra

Each character starts the scene with a chakra amount equal to half of their Ninja quality rounded down. For example, a character with a Ninja quality of 5 starts the scene with 2 chakra. Each character gains 1 chakra at the start of every round. There is no limit to how much chakra can be stored.

Chakra is used to increase the effectiveness of actions. Each point of chakra used can be thought of as increasing the rank of the technique used. Note that the mastery level of your character in a given style has an effect regardless of the rank of technique used. For example, a person using an E-rank technique (which uses no chakra) with C-rank style mastery would +roll 1d4, whereas a person using an E-rank technique with B-rank style mastery would +roll 1d6. The highest technique rank you are allowed to use in a given style is the same as your mastery level in that style.

If used for an attack action, spending a point of chakra increases the range of the style roll by 2 and the damage dealt by 1. For example, if you have C-rank Fire Manipulation mastery and use an E-rank technique, like puffing a little dart of flame, you will lose 0 chakra, +roll 1d4 for your style roll, and deal 1 damage if you succeed. If you use a D-rank technique, like spitting a small fireball, you will lose 1 chakra, +roll 1d6 for your style roll, and deal 2 damage if you succeed. If you use a C-rank technique, like Great Fireball Technique, you will lose 2 chakra, +roll 1d8 for your style roll, and deal 3 damage if you succeed. Using chakra for attacking is primarily useful for the extra damage afforded, and is best saved for situations where you got a good base Ninja roll or you're determined to bring an opponent down a few pegs.

If used for an attack action, spending a point of chakra doubles the range of the style roll. For example, if you have C-rank Iron-Body Taijutsu mastery and use an E-rank technique, like a simple block or dodge, you will lose 0 chakra and +roll 1d4 for your style roll. If you use a D-rank technique, like an augmented block, you will lose 1 chakra and +roll 1d8 for your style roll. If you use a C-rank technique, like dodging in a blur of speed, you will lose 2 chakra and +roll 1d16 for your style roll. Using chakra for defending gives exponentially larger boosts to your success roll range, but it still never guarantees safety.

«OOC» Noab says, "That's what I've got so far. I'll work on a set while you take a look at those, then I'll figure out your CRS attributes."

«OOC» Meruin nods.

«OOC» Noab says, "BTW, which side would you be on, Onimitsu? X)"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Niiice on the damage to the ninja quality."

«ONI» Onimitsu leans on the good side naturally, "So I'll be on your side this time Noab."

«OOC» Meruin is the good guy, this time.

«OOC» Meruin says, "It's the morality switching what if."

«ONI» Onimitsu nods.

«OOC» Meruin Advanced section, final paragraph, first sentence: 'If used for an attack action' should be 'if used for a defensive action'

«OOC» Noab says, "Ah, thank you."

«OOC» Meruin sagenods.

It's raining. It's always raining during these war scenes where the brutal forces of the evil army are preparing to crush the valiant rebels in their secluded wilderness base. It sets a grim mood for the coming slaughter. Plus, the dim lightning makes the glow of the mercenary commander's cigar against his hard-bitten face that much more dramatic.
Noab takes a last long draw on that cigar, then tosses it on the ground and crushes it under his heel. "Status," he growls. A comms officer turns toward him. "All companies are in position, commander. We've got the rebels surrounded on three sides. Awaiting your orders." Noab exhales his smoke. "Fine. Commence assault." The comms officer salutes and relays the order, and the army starts moving inward. Noab hefts his axe and marches forward. "Let's collect some heads."

«OOC» Noab says, "Looks like Meruin has a Ninja quality of 8, and his Spider Traits Taijutsu goes up to S-rank. That means he does +roll 1d13 at the start of an action, and +roll 1d10 for an E-rank technique. Also has some wind manip and such, if he wants to use it. One of the things I need to work into this system is some sort of advantage for having multiple styles. e.U"

«OOC» Noab says, "Onimitsu is a 6 Ninja with B-rank in Manji Style Taijutsu and Water Manipulation. He gets +roll 1d11 for base and +roll 1d6 for E-rank techniques."

«OOC» Noab says, "He's with the evil mercenary force."

«OOC» Meruin sagenods.

«OOC» Noab says, "How's this for a multi-style advantage: you can spend a point of chakra to add another style to your roll. Not just increasing the potential range, but doing a separate roll for each style and adding both to your total. So you're getting more success instead of more damage. That sound like something you guys would like to try out?"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Very nice."

«OOC» Meruin says, "Is there a style limit?"

«OOC» Noab says, "For the time being as we experiment with this system, no. You just have to spend a point of chakra for each style you add in. And you can simultaneously spend even more chakra to increase damage and the roll range of the primary style you're using."

«OOC» Noab says, "Noab is an 8 Ninja and has A-rank Fire and Earth Manipulations, B-rank Akimichi Taijutsu, and C-rank Oversized Weapon. He'll +roll 1d13 for base and +roll 1d8 for E-ranks in his highest styles."

Unbothered by rain and undaunted in the face of the upcoming battle, Onimitsu stood rigidly just outside the outer rim of the camp, awaiting orders and unnerving the actual guards to the camp. The others on guard wisely gave the armored shinobi a wide-berth, for whereas the average hardened merc might make a name for themselves by simpy being willing to do anything to see a job done, Onimitsu always took things a step further. It made him reliable. It earned him infamy of the negative kind. He could care less.
For his part, he doesn't seem to react when a man rushes up to deliver news to him. He simply takes it all in and nods curtly, the motions for those making up the right flank (or whatever other flank Noab himself wasn't in direct command of) to move out. The courier takes off again like the devil himself was at his heels. Or an Oni in this case, though luckly he has not earned the armored shinobi's ire. No. The only ones that had anything to fear were the rebels at this point.

"They come!"
Meruin's voice rings out into the night, potent enough, it seemed, to throw the falling rain away from him. He rose from his crouch in a sleek way as his men did the same, like an animal in his savagely powerful grace. It was time. On the run in this forested wilderness, they had been cornered here. Caught here. They could run no longer. And so as the enemy had surrounded them, they crouched in a wall of a flesh and steel, simply awaiting. Preparing. And the enemy has finally come.
"And we shall meet them!"
A second pair of arms leapt from his torso, blades of black — long and jagged — growing from his fingertips. He started forward in a slow jog, the start of his own people's march towards the enemy. "We shall show them who we are!" he roared again, louder, reaching even those on the other sides of the tangle of fires and tents that made their camp, those that must run in another direction to meet their foes. "They shall not take her while we yet draw breath! We shall not lie down! If they wish passage, they shall pay with their /blood/!"
"Valor and Victory, Courage and Cunning, Blood and Steel, these things I swear to you!" And as he began the oath that each of his men swore to their sovereign, the each of them took it up, continuing it as they loped towards those honorless mercenaries, their ranks spreading into a circle to cover defensive gaps. The voices of his people, their defiance and their will, met the enemy forces as a portent of the battle ahead. The rebels were fewer, but they were elite and holding justice on their sides. They had more than their lives to protect. They would not lose.
They could not.

«OOC» Noab says, "I'll take care of Onimitsu's stuff first since he's in the pose order before Meruin. So, Onimitsu is facing a small horde of rebel soldiers, who have a base quality of 4 Soldier. Their primary fighting style is Melee Weaponry at C-rank. Here goes their attack…"

RP: Noab rolled a 3 with 1d9 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Not a great base roll, so they save their chakra and attack at E-rank level."

RP: Noab rolled a 4 with 1d4 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Total of 7. Onimitsu, you can go ahead and +roll 1d11 for you base Ninja ability, then decide on a defense."

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 5 with 1d11 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu gambles on an e-rank under his highest style.

«OOC» Noab says, "That'll be a 1d6."

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 4 with 1d6 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu lives. T.T

«OOC» Noab says, "Your defense succeeds."

«OOC» Noab says, "Now for Noab vs. Meruin."

RP: Noab rolled a 5 with 1d13 die.

«OOC» Meruin also rolls for merc combat?

«OOC» Noab says, "Well, I could involve mooks in our fight too, but it would start getting complicated. X) We'd have to have them on both sides."

«OOC» Meruin says, "True."

«OOC» Meruin says, "We'll just have them cancel eachother out then, I spose."

«OOC» Noab says, "Right, they can be fighting around us in the background."

«OOC» Meruin nods.

«OOC» Noab says, "My base roll was middling. I think I'll use 1 chakra, just to start things off with a bit of a bang. Noab spits a small fireball at that hotshot who's shouting encouragement to the rebel troops. :P"

«OOC» Noab says, "Oh, Onimitsu, you might as well roll for your attack as well."

«OOC» Noab says, "Start with +roll 1d11."

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 6 with 1d11 die.

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 3 with 1d6 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Meheh"

«OOC» Noab says, "Rebel fighters' Soldier roll…"

RP: Noab rolled a 1 with 1d9 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu guts him some fools?

«OOC» Noab says, "I'd have to use all their chakra to give them a 50-50ish chance to succeed. X) They'll just take the hit."

«OOC» Noab says, "They are now a 3 Soldier group, although that doesn't necessarily reflect how many people are in it, just their ability level."

Noab peers into the murky woods as the sounds of defiant shouting start coming near. He almost might as well not bother, his troops are much more likely to spot the enemy than he is with his one eye gone and the other starting to cloud with age, but he's survived too many campaigns to slack on the habits that brought him this far. "Enemy sighted, dead ahead!" Yup, forward scouts are doing their job. Noab raises his hand in a signal, and the forces with him surge forward, shouting their warcries.
And Noab himself? He stays back a bit and observes as the two sides clash. Hey, he's the commander! And what's more he's a mercenary commander! >P He has three priorities, in descending order: survive, get rich, and increase his reputation by fulfilling mission objectives. Of course, he can't stay totally out of the fight while fulfilling goals two and three, but he picks his targets…like that multi-armed freak that seems to be leading the rebel charge. Pfft, all that talk about valor and courage…shutting him up might take some of the fight out of these zealots. So Noab pulls up a bit of chakra and spits a little ball of flame toward Meruin. >o
Meanwhile, on Onimitsu's flank, there aren't any particularly outstanding enemies for him to go after. Instead, Onimitsu himself stands out as a target! A bold group of spearmen charge at him, attempting to encircle him and jab him to earth. They're not shinobi-level on their own by any means, but they have been well-trained in group combat as soldiers.

Thunder and lightning may rule the sky, but on the ground it is drowned out by the battle cries of men and the blood rushing behind the ears. A rare few need not concern themselves with either, or perhaps better yet, were aware but detached from it all. Onimitsu is one of those rare few. And why shouldn't he be? Ever since casting aside both country and creed the man has found freedom from a life of endless and needless self-sacrifice. A life so very pointless when all that matters in the end is not a clean spirit, but full coffers, primal urges sated, and before the body becomes to frail to enjoy the former two, the glory to be had from death in battle. Granted, there —

*SWISH!*

Reasons and memories are banished the instant the first rebel made the foolish choice of striking first, only to hit nothing but air. White hot pain agony soon sweeps through the same man, stemming from his abdominal region. Blood may be coughed up and perhaps he'd see the blade sticking through him during those last few moments of life. Onimitsu neither knows or cares beyond the knowledge that one enemy was done. He eyed the four others who — after letting the rest of their comerades spread to cover them from the other mercs — chose Onimitsu as their enemy. Dull green eye sweeps past them all, analyzing them all one by one before yanking his blade free of the man he just killed.

What happens next is nothing short but a deadly dance of pointy objects, blades, fist, and feet. The latter two being unleashed mainly by the armored shinobi as he turned each of his attackers insides into their outsides, snapped necks, and shattered limbs. In some cases, they very own spears were turned upon their comerades when they thought attacking his blind spot was a good idea.

«ONI» Onimitsu mehs at the sound effect. Mehs at it all! z.z

"Iron willed! Let them break against us!"

The enemy had become clear to Meruin, his eyes of dark, swirling mists running swiftly with hues of red and black — hues of battle. And they lit with the light of flame streaking his way.
Narrowing swiftly, they focused on the fireball and then the man that it came from. Shinobi. And a focal point of some kind. Either a leader or a reknowned figure. A necessary target. But first that attack must be neutralized so as not to harm those behind him. Four black blades rose in a single swift motion, cutting the fireball into eight sections that the Okumo Elite simply ran through, black chitin seen receding from his chest a moment after he passed through unharmed. And then he took two ground pounding steps and leapt.
A giant, voracious leap that took him right over the head of the leading men and straight towards the commander. Body outstretched, blades at the fore, he traveled to the man with the hopes of simply goring him with the surprise maneuver. But he found an axe deflecting his strike, leaving him to hit the ground in a heavy roll that he came out of in a crouch, facing Noab. Slowly, four blades at the ready, he circled low.

«OOC» Noab says, "Okay, time for more rolls. Soldiers roll against Onimitsu…"

RP: Noab rolled a 8 with 1d8 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Ooo, they've got their best chance right now. They use 2 chakra for a C-rank group assault."

RP: Noab rolled a 3 with 1d8 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Hah!"

«OOC» Meruin needs to have a talk with these soldiers.

«OOC» Noab says, "Onimitsu, defend!"

«ONI» Onimitsu begins the slayings.

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 10 with 1d11 die.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Ugh."

«OOC» Meruin says, "Auto win."

«OOC» Meruin will never make it at this rate. >:|

«OOC» Noab says, "Whatever you roll on top of that will match theirs, so aye."

«ONI» Onimitsu cackles evilly.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Damn shinobi."

«OOC» Noab says, "You've still got the advantage against me, at least."

«ONI» Onimitsu shatters their spirit, and their spine with a D-rank! XO

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "er, strongest style"

«OOC» Noab says, "You have to do base roll again first."

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 2 with 1d11 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "hur"

«OOC» Meruin wonders if both attacks and defenses shouldn't utilize the same base rolls.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "You know what.. maybe I spoke too soon. >.>;;"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Haha."

«ONI» Onimitsu mind wipes you both and goes with an e-rank. <.<;;

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 5 with 1d6 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Soldiers defend…"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Come on 1.."

RP: Noab rolled a 4 with 1d8 die.

«OOC» Meruin thinks we should maybe save that for next round. e_e

«OOC» Meruin says, "After poses and such."

«OOC» Noab says, "Hrmm, possibly…I just like to get as much information about what's going on out there as possible so people can start pre-posing."

«OOC» Meruin nods.

«OOC» Noab finishes this before he forgets anyway. X) "Soldiers defend with D-rank, using their last bit of chakra until next round."

RP: Noab rolled a 2 with 1d8 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Huzzah!"

«OOC» Noab says, "And they fail anyway. X) Down to 2 Soldier."

«OOC» Noab says, "Noab's attack against Meruin…"

RP: Noab rolled a 4 with 1d13 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Not great, so I'll use E-rank, trying to shoot a spike of earth up into his foot."

RP: Noab rolled a 1 with 1d8 die.

Onimitsu has partially disconnected.

«OOC» Noab poses.

The soldiers facing Onimitsu cry out in agony and anguish as he starts ripping through them, but not despair. Indeed, they rally manfully and remember their training, closing ranks around him for a valiant counter-attack. Unfortunately the slippery conditions cause a couple of them to stumble, and the coordinated assault proves not so effective as it might've been. @.@
Noab holds up his axe, using the broad blade as a shield. It was a simple manuever, all that was needed to stop such a straightforward attack. e.U Noab gives a push to the halted blades before rotating his weapon back into an attack-ready position. He doesn't attack with it yet, though. He knows he's too slow with the hulking chopper to take advantage of that moment. "Son, I don't know what your story is or how strong you think you are, but leaping straight at an enemy over that kind of distance is like saying you have a death wish." Noab glances at Meruin's crouched position and decides to use his closeness to the ground against him. "Not that it matters much, seeing as you've all got to die anyway." Noab tucks his axe under his arm and tries to rapidly go through the seals to bring an earth spike up under Meruin's foot. >.U

Move and live, stop and die. Onimitsu followed this line of thought to the letter after cutting down the last of the spearmen. Although his glances maybe be fleeting, everything he sees is broken down in mind. So far the tide remained in their favor but there was no telling what desperate acts the rebels may resort to in order to at least turn their enemies victory into a pyrrhic one if any at all.
Every few steps made are a fight in themselves thanks to the deluge and scattered remains of the fallen soaking on the ground. Onimitsu presses on…
They close ranks on him, threatening to ensure a long and painful end for him thanks to the very same armor. That dreadful end is mercifully evaded when the first one to slip up thanks to the battlefield condition provides an opening for him to get clear. The leap puts him atop the man's head and with a spine fracturing leap from there, Onimitsu is temporarily free from being surrounded.
They regrouped fast, as to be expected of combat experienced. Unfortunately by that point, Onimitsu is already on the move again, slashing one in passing before kicking him into his fellows. By the time they recover from that one, Onimitsu is gone… and back again, hidden during his approach by a lightning strikes glare until it is too late to avoid being turned into a shish-kabob from Oni's flea drop strike. After that strike he remains hunched over with both hands and feet still held precariously atop the hilt of his Katana, eye aglow with an eiree light and glaring balefully at the soldiers that still remain.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Second round, and I haven't used any chakra. Start with 4."

«OOC» Noab says, "Just wanted to make sure everybody knows where they stand. I didn't give any on the first round."

«OOC» Meruin ahs and nods.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Understood."

RP: Noab rolled a 4 with 1d13 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Need to use chakra to even stand a chance…eh, I'll take the hit. :P"

Meruin's face contorts into a rictus of hard hate, eyes on the giant cyclops across from him, the sound of his own men dying to his rear left loud in his ears. There is another focal point in this battle. And they only further turned the tide against his people. Yet another obstacle he would have to mount on his own. Lest this battle be lost in its first moments. He would have to create an opening to depart this match without receiving the hatchet in his back.
But Noab didn't seem as though he was inclined to let him go as he swiftly started through handseals, causing Meruin to circle more swiftly in preparation of avoiding flames. But what he found… was that the man had a /second/ elemental affinity. Shinobi indeed. Meruin found a foot raising under the point of an earthen spear, but the spike wasn't even strong enough to pierce his tough skin due to the rain. Swiftly, his muscles tensed and he stomped the earth back into it's place, narrowing his eyes at Noab.
"If you must nag and prattle about my battle technique, you may to do so from the grave, mercenary." Growl still in the air, he stepped forward, engaging the man and doing so with a flurry of strikes. Four blades, moving in deadly coordination, one attack seamlessly becoming two or more.

«OOC» Noab says, "Oh wait, that should've been 1d7…not that it makes a huge difference."

RP: Noab rolled a 1 with 1d4 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Poor soldiers. X)"

«OOC» Noab says, "Noab attacking Meruin…"

RP: Noab rolled a 12 with 1d12 die.

«OOC» Meruin shakes his head, "Good help is so hard to find."

«OOC» Noab says, "Well, I'd like to get this fight moving toward a conclusion, so I'm going all-out here. >) Spending all 5 of my chakra to pull off an A-rank fire attack with Akimichi Taijutsu stacked on to help with the success."

RP: Noab rolled a 3 with 1d16 die.

RP: Noab rolled a 6 with 1d6 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "You'll have to match a 21, Meruin. Doable."

RP: Meruin rolled a 7 with 1d13 die.

«OOC» Meruin click clicks.

«OOC» Meruin says, "2 chakra would triple or quadruple?"

«OOC» Noab says, "Quadruple."

«OOC» Meruin says, "Ah."

«OOC» Meruin says, "We'll run with that."

«OOC» Noab says, "1d40, then."

RP: Meruin rolled a 11 with 1d40 die.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Bah."

«OOC» Meruin knew it.

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 4 with 1d11 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu finishes the slayings. >)

«OOC» Noab says, "You'll need to use 1 chakra if you want to end it this turn."

«ONI» Onimitsu grumble grumbles.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "But alright, 1 it be along with my base roll."

The rebel soldiers really are starting to despair now. Not so much in a cowardly run for your life I want my mommy way, but in a I don't have much hope that I can make a difference here anymore and I just want to get it over with way. DX It makes them reckless and disorganized, charging at Onimitsu as single attackers rather than a unified unit.

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 7 with 1d11 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu ponders, "1d8 for D?"

«OOC» Noab says, "Affirmative."

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 5 with 1d8 die.

RP: Noab rolled a 6 with 1d7 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "They use their chakra because they have no chance otherwise…"

RP: Noab rolled a 5 with 1d8 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Noble try, but they died."

Noab tries to bring his axe back up to block Meruin's chitin blades, but it's harder when they're not all pointed at the same area. >.U; The four swords flicker about, reaching past Noab's weapon here and there to draw shallow cuts on his skin. Of course, Noab would prefer that they didn't touch him at all…but he accepted long ago that the traits of his clan meant that his best advantage lay not so much in avoiding all damage as being able to take a lot of it and dish out even more. >P Noab waits until he judges that Meruin is too committed to his assault, then shoots an enlarged arm out to push him over and pin him on his back. Then Noab summons up all the chakra he can, and pulls his hand away to form the few necessary seals before BLASTING that hard-shelled nuisance with the biggest and fiercest wave of flame he's capable of! >O

«OOC» Noab needs to AFK to make dinner, should take around half an hour.

They stood no chance but their bravery and desperation would be rewarded in the form of a swift death. He kicks off from the skewered and dying and dead remains of his last victims and springs high into the air, evading the first horizontal strike directed towards him. The blade sadly had to be abandon the process, but at this point it was unneccessary. As soon as his feet had touched the ground, chakra is gathered to his feet and exploded forward, spinning and slashing with sharp edge of his gauntlet, ducking and maiming low without seeming to slow in the least. But in time, he inevitably slows to a stop at a crouch. It is at that point that those he eviscerated all fell where they last stood.
"It is done."
He stood up slowly and turned to regard what has been done. He should finish him…. but then the glare of light from afar, that which had nothing to do with the weather, forwarns him of things intensifying at the generals end. Onimitsu still waits until the flames have died down a notch before making any decisions. The first is to retrive his blade. The second briefly see if their remaining forces would need help moping up his side. Then lastly, he shall make haste in aiding the big man.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Craaaazy."

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Too crazy? Or just crazy?"

«OOC» Meruin was going to run a stealth roll.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Since that's not really covered by the system, should I just kind've… not? z_za"

«OOC» Noab returns briefly. "I'm not sure how well it would work, but we could try. it wouldn't really be the kind of stealth we're used to, though, it would just work the same as anything else in the system. If you succeed, Noab goes down in capability."

Meruin began dismantling the man's defenses, pressing the giant backwards with the flurry of strikes, more and more of his slashes getting through to land a blow. Child's play, truly. Much less than he'd expected of this battle. So he continued his assault, preparing Noab for a sudden, bleeding death at the end of his four bla—Suddenly, Meruin was on the ground, pinned by a grotesquely enlarged arm from the mercenary commander, only two of his blades crossed at his chest to protect him. And they did nothing against this strength, only pressed into his body.
He let out a phleghmy cough as the hand was removed, two uncrushed arms pushing into the ground to get him rising up. Hate filled eyes found Noab's as he struggled upwards. He hadn't even gained his feet before the wave of flame slammed into him, sending him flying with it's impact and scorching much of the clothing from his body. Cracked, blackened and bleeding skin is what shows beneath that clothing, his hair gone from the blast, leaving him a monster groaning from split lips.
He lay… amidst the corpses of his own men. Amidst the corpses of his goals and… he could not give in yet. Not yet. Iron willed. These men will break against him…
His body rose from the ground as a spire of darkness left his back. He let out a whisper of a breath, agony before chitin burst from the whole of his body, suddenly forming into the shape of a large, spider. His unmoving body appeared at its head and his eyes opened wide as the giant spider began rushing into the men around it, chitin appearing from its form to strike out at all angle against any within his reach as he dashed towards Noab, Onimitsu one such person.

«OOC» Meruin took 5 damage, yeah?

«OOC» Noab says, "Affirmative."

RP: Meruin rolled a 3 with 1d8 die.

RP: Meruin rolled a 4 with 1d16 die.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Ah well."

«OOC» Meruin says, "Those tres chakra points."

«OOC» Noab says, "So which of us are you attacking?"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Oni."

«ONI» Onimitsu chin rubs.

«OOC» Noab almost thinks he should throw in some more mooks on Meruin's side, and more capable ones this time. Wasn't expecting both of the bad guys to converge on him. e.Ua

…Well THAT'S an ugly bug. :P Seems this kid's pretty darn tough after all. Noab scowls. He won't be able to use any BIG chakra techniques for a couple minutes, but it looks as though long-range attack might be the best option while it can still be engaged in. Accordingly, Noab puckers his lips and puffs out a tiny dart of flame, aiming for Meruin's face. Unfortunately for him, he made a tactical oversight: it's still raining. -.U; It didn't matter much when he was spewing great balls of fire, but the thin dart sizzles and fizzles into a cloud of embers as it approaches Meruin. Noab will be lucky if it even stings him. XP

«OOC» Meruin says, "Only part of him that's actually him is the body at the head."

Even in the presence of a monstrosity Onimitsu did not quake or halt his actions out of misguided fear. If he is to die, death will be met head on. He leaped, clearing the ligament of chitin and whatever else the Okumo infused in such a limb, then leaped further with it as a spring board sky high. For a brief seconds, the rain seems to stop where the man has ascended. The truth, as it would quickly become clear, is that much of the rain water was being rapidly. Some as a platform that Onimitsu beneath the armored shinobi's boots, the rest, around his sword.
"Suiton: Kanobi no Tatsumaki! (Water Release: Oni Club Tornado)"
He stomps down with the declaration, fliping the platform about and breaking its ability to sustain itself. The rest splashes away under the force of his diagnol leap off it. Twirl, Twirl, and Twirl he did, rapidly honing his water enshrouded bladed into fine, pressurized edge. All of which was to be directed at the giant spider making a mess of what should've been an easy clean up job. Incidently, the blades extensive length might've cut up some of their allies in the process when he got closer to the ground, but hey, they knew the risks of being a merc!

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Highest style, b-rank, and elemental infusion.. Or is the last only for defenses?"

«OOC» Noab says, "It's for whatever. You don't have to make that choice until you've done your base roll, though."

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Nay, I'm going all out no matter what! XO"

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 2 with 1d11 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu regrets..

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Curse you dice!"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "1d12 for rank?"

«OOC» Noab says, "Affirmative."

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 5 with 1d12 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "And finally, the element.. e_e;"

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 4 with 1d11 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "D-rank mastery so… 1d8?"

«OOC» Noab says, "I thought you had B-rank in water?"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Nay, that's medical"

«OOC» Noab says, "Ah. Well in that case, it gives you a 1d2. X) The rank only contributes to one of the style rolls."

«ONI» Onimitsu sagenods.

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 2 with 1d2 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Grandtotally of 13 :D"

«ONI» Onimitsu full of fail.

«OOC» Noab says, "What was that 1d11 for?"

«ONI» Onimitsu eyes, 9, "And it was originally because I misinterpeted what was said earlier about adding a style."

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Also, I'm down to 2 chakra or 1? c.c;"

«OOC» Noab says, "1."

«OOC» Noab says, "Although I'm tempted to refund the elemental thing, since it obviously was far less a bonus than you were thinking. X)"

«ONI» Onimitsu headshakes and shall stand by his errors. z.z;

«OOC» Noab says, "Meruin, you need to defend against Onimitsu."

RP: Meruin rolled a 5 with 1d8 die.

RP: Meruin rolled a 8 with 1d10 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Dang nabit"

«OOC» Meruin says, "True."

«OOC» Meruin says, "It's my turn."

«ONI» Onimitsu nods.

«ONI» Onimitsu kicks his die.

Meruin never even notices the flame that came his way, its impotentence fizzling out against the shell of the giant chitin spider that held his form as its head when he shifted to meet the -other- shinobi bringing water to bare. A pair of spider limbs rose and intercepted the strike, making the water weapon burst apart, leaving a sudden deluge of rain to fall on Meruin and those around him.
There was a heavy thump. The chitinous legs that'd defended against the attacks had broken where the impact was, sitting on the ground. But Meruin had barely even noticed, more chitin having grown in place of what was lost, allowing him to move towards Onimitsu before they had even touched the ground. He lashed out at the shinobi, attacking in a flurry of strikes, smaller legs of serrated shell growing out of the main one to slash in the event of the larger limb's failure to land.

RP: Meruin rolled a 3 with 1d8 die.

RP: Meruin rolled a 7 with 1d10 die.

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 6 with 1d11 die.

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 3 with 1d6 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Dang it"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Fur real"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "At least I'll have 2 chocolate bars at the end of this round. 8I"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Omnom."

«OOC» Meruin doesn't understand, actually. :

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Your not gonna make me eat it dang it. >:O"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Chocolate=chakra"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Blah blah words n stuff."

«OOC» Meruin says, "Oh jah."

«OOC» Noab says, "You've got 2 chakra now, actually."

«OOC» Meruin bb

«ONI» Onimitsu saves it for his next epic fail.

RP: Noab rolled a 5 with 1d12 die.

…Noab notes with a wary eye Onimitsu's willingness to engage in…collateral damage. e.U Not that he has too many scruples about it either, but it's something to watch out for. On the plus side, the spider kid seems pretty well distracted by Onimitsu. Noab approaches from behind Meruin and takes a swing at the chitinous psuedo-spider's abdomen with his axe. Maybe it won't do any actual harm to the boy's body, but a good crack in the armor could help, even if it just means he has to spend energy repairing it.

«OOC» Noab says, "Oh, forgot the second part of the roll. X)"

RP: Noab rolled a 4 with 1d4 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Not bad."

«ONI» Onimitsu hums, "1d9?"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "As my new base I mean, or less?"

«OOC» Meruin says, "10."

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 2 with 1d10 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Oh for the"

«ONI» Onimitsu has etsu luck. ._.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Haha."

«ONI» Onimitsu pontificates.

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 3 with 1d6 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "5 ain't so bad. ;.;"

Onimitsu feet is hardly on the ground for a second before the Okumo is on him. Forcing him back after colliding with the blade he held in a high guard to meet the first striking limb. Meruin was relentless. Each time the swordsman managed to draw his blade up to parry, deflect, or simply hold off the attacks, Onimitsu is forced back bit by bit. In time some of those strike glance of his blade and share off both armor and flesh, or even penetrates just deep enough to leave a nice gash in his abdomen before retreating to it's owner side.
If given a moment he could probably patch up the wound and stay fighting strong. Unfortunately against an opponent that sought to completely and utterly destroy you after slaying most if not all his comerads in battle, the chances of being given enough breathing room was non-existant. So he gritted his teeth, gripped his sword a little more tightly, and then charged back into the thick of things. Ever weary along the way of any more suprises out of the okumo until he got within range of landing a more crtical blow against the appearant psuedo-regenerator.

RP: Meruin rolled a 8 with 1d8 die.

«OOC» Meruin wins against Noab's.

RP: Meruin rolled a 7 with 1d8 die.

RP: Meruin rolled a 2 with 1d10 die.

«OOC» Meruin is also cool on Oni's front.

«OOC» Meruin z_z

«OOC» Noab is going to have to figure out a way to make combat go quicker for high-level chars. X) "Fortunately, I do already have one idea that may help with that…"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Wassat?"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Also, I'd prefer to be able to attack more than one person at a time."

«OOC» Meruin says, "Make a quick rule or two for it?"

«OOC» Meruin looks up how much chakra he has. z_z

«OOC» Noab says, "I think it would be interesting if at certain chakra levelssay 5 to start withyou actually get more efficient chakra usage. So if you've got 5 or more chakra in reserve, you can use D-ranks for no cost, C-ranks for 1 chakra, etc. It'll have to be just for attacks though, or you'll get pretty hard to touch using D-rank defenses all the time. X)"

«OOC» Noab says, "Well, we could say that if you spend a chakra point, your attack applies to an extra target…"

«OOC» Noab says, "Or some sort of success penalty could make it fair."

«OOC» Noab says, "Let's try the success penalty, but we'll make it 1d3."

«OOC» Meruin says, "And that'll make the attack an AOE rather than require another one, yes?"

«OOC» Noab says, "Affirmative."

«OOC» Meruin says, "Kewl."

«OOC» Meruin says, "I'll toss out my last two then."

«OOC» Meruin says, "One to AOE, one to increase range and damage."

RP: Meruin rolled a 8 with 1d12 die.

«OOC» Meruin says, "14."

«OOC» Noab says, "Wait, you were spending a chakra point to make it AoE? I don't mind if you want to do it that way, but I thought we were allowing AoE under a success penalty. X)"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Ugh."

«OOC» Meruin says, "Right. Tired."

«OOC» Meruin was thinking that was how he'd have suggested. Completed forgot what you actually said. z_za

RP: Meruin rolled a 3 with 1d3 die.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Haha. 11."

«ONI» Onimitsu let's Noab go first. >.>

«OOC» Noab defends…

RP: Noab rolled a 10 with 1d12 die.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Ah well."

«OOC» Meruin says, "Kinda."

«OOC» Noab can't fail after adding to that. X)

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 7 with 1d10 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu :|a

«ONI» Onimitsu gambles on a d

«OOC» Noab says, "Then you would roll 1d12."

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 5 with 1d12 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu almost went with 8. z.z

«ONI» Onimitsu is alive. :D

«OOC» Noab figures out his next action…

The Okumo felt the reverberation of power as Noab's axe bounced off of his vehicle's shell, not powerful enough to break it but the potency of the strike still felt. It only served to present him with another enemy however. So after a simple parry of Onimitsu's strike with a spider limb, the Okumo retreated in a single, skidding leap, legs gouging rivulets in the ground. He snarled at the two, sparing only a glance back at the center of camp — nearly overrun by those mercenary curs — before a swing of a spider limb lets loose a spray of chitinous shrapnel at the enemy's two greatest.

«OOC» Noab says, "We all have 2 chakra at the start of this round, BTW."

«OOC» Meruin thought he used up all of his.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Or maybe all but one."

«OOC» Meruin meant to use it all up, though. z_z

«OOC» Meruin says, "Oh yeah."

«OOC» Noab says, "You thought you used it all, but that was when you were thinking you needed to spend one for AoE."

«OOC» Meruin says, "We went the AOE penalty route."

«OOC» Noab says, "I thought of pointing out that you could use another for rank, but I figured you wouldn't want to reroll that 8. X)"

«OOC» Meruin would've went for it.

«OOC» Meruin had wanted to go out with a little gambit.

RP: Noab rolled a 5 with 1d12 die.

«OOC» Meruin says, "You guys need to kill me already. z_z"

«OOC» Noab says, "Heh. We're trying. X)"

«OOC» Noab will use 2 chakra to perform a combination of Akimichi Taijutsu and Oversized Weapon at D-rank.

RP: Noab rolled a 7 with 1d8 die.

RP: Noab rolled a 4 with 1d4 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Very nice. >) That's going to be swinging his axe with elongated arms, in case you want to start thinking about how to pose about it."

«ONI» Onimitsu sticks to his piddly skill one last round before trying to go big. z.z

«OOC» Meruin says, "Dun do it bro."

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "But I only haz 2 bars, bro. D:"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Their me precious precious barz. ;.;"

«OOC» Noab says, "Make your base roll before deciding anything. :P"

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 4 with 1d10 die.

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 6 with 1d6 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Woot"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Go ahead and wait next time. z_z"

«ONI» Onimitsu :P

«OOC» Meruin's rolls will bail.

«OOC» Meruin will take his last 3 points of damage and Oni will never have his chance at awesomeness.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Give me a chance, cap. I never shine. D: Only make a foolz of myself every turn. T.T"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "at every turn when going big.*"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Not in my hands, friend."

«OOC» Meruin points, "You chose your lot!" D:<

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "I ain't your friend no more, buddy. >:I"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Well I ain't your buddy no more, /friend/. e_e"

Noab manages to deflect the bits of shrapnel coming his way with his axe blade. An axe might not afford too many defensive options against quicker melee weapons, but that broad blade sure comes in handy for blocking anything that comes in straight. :P Noab settles his stance and hefts his axe up around his shoulder. Meruin's too far away for a regular axe strike, is he planning to throw it? c.c Not quite! Noab's arms elongate as he swings the weapon, stretching it out to reach to where Meruin is!

«OOC» Meruin says, "Defending against Noab."

«OOC» Meruin has how much chakra again?

«OOC» Noab says, "2."

«OOC» Meruin says, "Bah…"

RP: Meruin rolled a 7 with 1d8 die.

RP: Meruin rolled a 15 with 1d20 die.

«OOC» Meruin lives a long and healthy life.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Don't listen to me, Oni."

«OOC» Meruin says, "I never know what I'm talking about."

RP: Meruin rolled a 4 with 1d8 die.

«OOC» Meruin :u

RP: Meruin rolled a 5 with 1d10 die.

«OOC» Meruin says, "There you have it."

«OOC» Meruin takes another hit.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Yeah. :D"

«ONI» Onimitsu finishes the job now. >)

«OOC» Meruin says, "Oni's time to shine, mayhaps, yes? :D"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Yesh!… next round though. T_T"

«OOC» Noab says, "Just to make sure we know where we are, it's Oni's pose."

Emboldend in spite of his sword arm becoming swore after that last parry, Onimitsu charges right after the Okumo. A reckless charge by all appearance but in truth the swordsman remained keenly aware of his surroundings. Even that proves to nearly be not enough when all he has is a single eye and instinct to really keep him out of abreast of any troubles. Then he sees it. A flash of lightning illuminating the area just enough to distort the image before him and reveal, if only for an instance, the trajectory of most of Meruin's chitinous shrapnel. The projectiles fall one after the other as the armor bearing shinobi deflected them through blade and armor and well timed spining side-step.
The dance of course did not end there, for bearing low he picked up the pace even further, risking falling or being blinded by the chance splattering of mud in his eye. He has no hope of reading Noab's intent without glancing back, so it is by luck and speed he managed to avoid being swept up into the attack by leaping high above it, and slash through the Okumo's chitin as he sailed overhead.

Meruin hadn't known his opponent in the beginning, and though he was not as wary as he should have been, he /was/ studious. He had learned enough of this giant to know that he had the capacity to become an even greater giant, one part at a time. So when the blade flew his way on an extended arm, he was fully prepared to bring a spider leg up and scuttle to the side, parrying the blow so that it might sunder the earth rather than him. He let out a seething breath, unable to fully contrain the pain he felt from every drop of rain that touched his cracked and leaking flesh, scorched by the Akimichi's flames.
But Onimitsu came to clash with him, sailing up to him in a single, powerful leap, forcing him to push past it once more and continue the battle. A new spider leg of chitin sprouted from the shell behind him, clashing with Onimitsu's blade and preventing it from reaching the Okumo. But still the spider let out a muted, anguished scream. The armored man's blow was strong enough to break the chitin where it struck, sending a long shard into Meruin's arm where it remained as he rushed towards Noab. Things were dire. If he had not been so badly wounded in the beginning, then perhaps this could be a victory for him. But he had few hopes to kill these two, let alone to survive and protect… her.
But he'd meant his words. They would pay their passage in blood and over his rent corpse. Onimitsu would destract, it seemed, while Noab provided the most harm, though both were powerful. But he needed to reduce the greater's strength before he could hope for a chance. And so, he drove his large spider straight at the cyclops, a blender of chitinous edges and jaws and claws streaking out to try and rend the man and bring him down to size.

RP: Meruin rolled a 1 with 1d8 die.

RP: Meruin rolled a 12 with 1d14 die.

«OOC» Meruin says, "Last two chakras."

RP: Noab rolled a 11 with 1d12 die.

RP: Noab rolled a 1 with 1d4 die.

«OOC» Noab says, "Yay for Meruin. X)"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Pfft."

«OOC» Meruin >.>

RP: Noab rolled a 7 with 1d9 die.

«OOC» Noab does D-rank Akimichi taijutsu, bear hug.

RP: Noab rolled a 7 with 1d8 die.

«OOC» Meruin notes, he only put on 2 chakras.

«OOC» Meruin says, "So you should be rolling… nerrmind."

«OOC» Meruin says, "You rite, you rite, my b"

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 8 with 1d10 die.

«ONI» Onimitsu mehs, gambles it all. o_o

RP: Onimitsu rolled a 1 with 1d12 die.

«OOC» Meruin X)

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "SO much HATRED! >_<"

«OOC» Meruin says, "I told you to just do it last time. D:<"

«ONI» Onimitsu is all about the biggun blows, maaan. Is the super mook. :P

«OOC» Meruin says, "Heh."

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Why do you think I had to fight the lesser mooks. >.>"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "?*"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Never stretch a cold muscle?"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Pfft. n'ways your moveth"

«OOC» Meruin will get around to it. z_z

Noab grunts and tries to pull his axe back in. It barely gets back before Meruin, and it isn't much use in blocking the storm of strikes that come. x.U Sooo much stabby-scratchy-slashiness! But as noted before, Noab's accustomed to powering through such abuse. >.U He drops his axe and expands both arms, reaching around to give the giant arachnid a bear hug. Talk about your nightmare scenarios. @.@ But it'll be worth it if he can end this by cracking the shell and crushing its contents. "Ain't gettin' paid enough for this," Noab grunts. XP

Onimitsu lands, skidding along the ground as he spun about to stay facing Meruin. At the rate things were going — He gritted his teeth, forcing down despair. The Okumo's valiant efforts to stay strong in the heat of overwhelming odds was admirable. However…
"Just hold him!" Onimitsu calls out to Noab mid-run. If the Akimichi general can just hold out for a precious few moments and hamper the Okumos ability to move, Onimitsu might just yet make it in time. As he ran the blade became alight with an otherwordly purple light. One that seemed to pull at one's spirit just by looking at it. The Yoshimitsu's bearer learned long ago to avoid looking at the blade when it came to the technique he intended to perform this time.
He leaps high again, only this time with the intent to impale the bastard's actual body after unleashing a flury of strikes to hack away any defenses that rise up to met him.
Lightning flashes behind him…
Onimitsu has become death incarnate.

Yes. Torn flesh, splattered blood, the pain of a fiend.
But it was a victory that died far too young, as the good often do. He soon found himself wrapped in the crushing arms of that Akimichi, the long limbs squeezing. Meruin let out a hiss before his body suddenly seemed to get sucked into the black body of the spider creation.
The arachnid form was crushed in half as the Okumo's body slipped from the chitin on the other side. He looked up, the spider form already swiftly reconstructing itself from that gaping wound, and his eyes widened at wthe sight that greeted him. A sight nearly… confusing.
Onimitsu standing on the other end of the blade in his chest.
Meruin looked down at the steel, too thickly slicked with blood for the rain to clean but losing no hint of that purple sheen despite it. "No…" His hands rose, crackling flesh wrapping around the weapon as though he could remove it from his chest and it would fix everything. He looked up to Onimitsu. "Please… please do not. Please don't take…" Body rigid, the light faded from his eyes as his final whisper slipped from his scorched lips.
"My daughter…"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "One more round?"

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "er, of ending poses."

«OOC» Noab is working on one.

«ONI» Onimitsu has words he'd like to exchange with the dieing man.

«OOC» Meruin has died. "No more poses outta moi."

«OOC» Meruin AFKs for forever to go pick up his little brother now.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Later Meru-meru~"

«OOC» Meruin says, "Thank you guys for the scene. Much appreciated."

«OOC» Noab salutes.

«ONI» Onimitsu says, "Likewise bosh man. :)"

Oh joy. Collateral Damage-san says 'just hold him'. >.U; Still, not much else Noab can do at the moment. Noab squeezes until the psuedo-spider snaps, then lets go and hops back quickly to assess the situation. Ah, good…Onimitsu got the blasted sucker, who even had the decency to move to somewhere that didn't involve getting Noab stabbed too. :P Noab takes a look around the battlefield…no other really dangerous foes apparent, just grunts being mopped up in the distance. Noab deems it safe enough to light up another cigar. The pleas of the dieing man hold no interest for Noab one way or another; if his client wanted a girl captured or killed, he didn't mention it to him. He just said, crush any resistance…which is what Noab plans to finish doing now. "Gettin' too old fer this," Noab mutters, heading for the rebel base.

Onimitsu doesn't reply. He doesn't move. He does nothing except let the Okumo slowly begin to the wither. When he feels the boy's soul begin to slip from its mortal coils, fragmented as a result of Yoshimitsu's influence — its hunger being sated at the cost of a soul reaped too soon, only then does the swordsman lean in close and whisper into Meruin's ear.
"… Will not be without her father for long. Nor you, without a chance at vengeance." On that note the armored shinobi rips the blade free, allowing the husk that was once a powerful adversary to fall where ever it should. It mattered not anymore. The job was complete by this point. Almost. Onimitsu gives the Akimichi one last lingering look before turning away to head towards the base. He had a promise to keep after all…"

I am planning to run a scene for the What If? Switching Sides RP challenge. Noab will be a ruthless mercenary commander in this scene, set on destroying the resistance to his employer's whims. Join him to crush the enemy with savage force and underhanded tactics, or oppose him as the unlikely heroes of this backwards world.
Depending on participant wishes, we may give another try to my PDQ-ish conflict system, which worked pretty well in the Left 4 Shinobi scene despite some rough edges. I plan to run the scene this Saturday, the 7th, starting at approximately 2 PM Eastern time.
-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-=^=-

It's raining. It's always raining during these war scenes where the brutal forces of the evil army are preparing to crush the valiant rebels in their secluded wilderness base. It sets a grim mood for the coming slaughter. Plus, the dim lightning makes the glow of the mercenary commander's cigar against his hard-bitten face that much more dramatic.
Noab takes a last long draw on that cigar, then tosses it on the ground and crushes it under his heel. "Status," he growls. A comms officer turns toward him. "All companies are in position, commander. We've got the rebels surrounded on three sides. Awaiting your orders." Noab exhales his smoke. "Fine. Commence assault." The comms officer salutes and relays the order, and the army starts moving inward. Noab hefts his axe and marches forward. "Let's collect some heads."

Unbothered by rain and undaunted in the face of the upcoming battle, Onimitsu stood rigidly just outside the base, awaiting orders. The others on guard wisely gave the armored shinobi a wide-berth, for whereas the average hardened merc might make a name for themselves by simpy being willing to do anything to see a job done, the armored shinobi always took things a step forward. It made him reliable. It earned him infamy of the negative kind. He could careless.
For his part, he doesn't seem to react when a man rushes past to deliver news, though the feeling of being watched and disected prevails long after the man has passed the 'statue'. Word quickly spreads not long after the man ran past with news. In answer, Onimitsu simply folded his arms across the steel carapace straddling his chest and waited until Noab made his way out before moving alongside him.
"Let us hope they do not fall on their own blade before we reach them." He states tonelessly in passing.

Unbothered by rain and undaunted in the face of the upcoming battle, Onimitsu stood rigidly just outside the outer rim of the camp, awaiting orders and unnerving the actual guards to the camp. The others on guard wisely gave the armored shinobi a wide-berth, for whereas the average hardened merc might make a name for themselves by simpy being willing to do anything to see a job done, Onimitsu always took things a step further. It made him reliable. It earned him infamy of the negative kind. He could care less.
For his part, he doesn't seem to react when a man rushes up to deliver news to him. He simply takes it all in and nods curtly, the motions for those making up the right flank (or whatever other flank Noab himself wasn't in direct command of) to move out. The courier takes off again like the devil himself was at his heels. Or an Oni in this case, though luckly he has not earned the armored shinobi's ire. No. The only ones that had anything to fear were the rebels at this point. (re)

"They come!"
Meruin's voice rings out into the night, potent enough, it seemed, to throw the falling rain away from him. He rose from his crouch in a sleek way as his men did the same, like an animal in his savagely powerful grace. It was time. On the run in this forested wilderness, they had been cornered here. Caught here. They could run no longer. And so as the enemy had surrounded them, they crouched in a wall of a flesh and steel, simply awaiting. Preparing. And the enemy has finally come.
"And we shall meet them!"
A second pair of arms leapt from his torso, blades of black — long and jagged — growing from his fingertips. He started forward in a slow jog, the start of his own people's march towards the enemy. "We shall show them who we are!" he roared again, louder, reaching even those on the other sides of the tangle of fires and tents that made their camp, those that must run in another direction to meet their foes. "They shall not take her while we yet draw breath! We shall not lie down! If they wish passage, they shall pay with their /blood/!"
"Valor and Victory, Courage and Cunning, Blood and Steel, these things I swear to you!" And as he began the oath that each of his men swore to their sovereign, the each of them took it up, continuing it as they loped towards those honorless mercenaries, their ranks spreading into a circle to cover defensive gaps. The voices of his people, their defiance and their will, met the enemy forces as a portent of the battle ahead. The rebels were fewer, but they were elite and holding justice on their sides. They had more than their lives to protect. They would not lose.
They could not.

Noab peers into the murky woods as the sounds of defiant shouting start coming near. He almost might as well not bother, his troops are much more likely to spot the enemy than he is with his one eye gone and the other starting to cloud with age, but he's survived too many campaigns to slack on the habits that brought him this far. "Enemy sighted, dead ahead!" Yup, forward scouts are doing their job. Noab raises his hand in a signal, and the forces with him surge forward, shouting their warcries.
And Noab himself? He stays back a bit and observes as the two sides clash. Hey, he's the commander! And what's more he's a mercenary commander! >P He has three priorities, in descending order: survive, get rich, and increase his reputation by fulfilling mission objectives. Of course, he can't stay totally out of the fight while fulfilling goals two and three, but he picks his targets…like that multi-armed freak that seems to be leading the rebel charge. Pfft, all that talk about valor and courage…shutting him up might take some of the fight out of these zealots. So Noab pulls up a bit of chakra and spits a little ball of flame toward Meruin. >o
Meanwhile, on Onimitsu's flank, there aren't any particularly outstanding enemies for him to go after. Instead, Onimitsu himself stands out as a target! A bold group of spearmen charge at him, attempting to encircle him and jab him to earth. They're not shinobi-level on their own by any means, but they have been well-trained in group combat as soldiers.

Thunder and lightning may rule the sky, but on the ground it is drowned out by the battle cries of men and the blood rushing behind the ears. A rare few need not concern themselves with either, or perhaps better yet, were aware but detached from it all. Onimitsu is one of those rare few. And why shouldn't he be? Ever since casting aside both country and creed the man has found freedom from a life of endless and needless self-sacrifice. A life so very pointless when all that matters in the end is not a clean spirit, but full coffers, primal urges sated, and before the body becomes to frail to enjoy the former two, the glory to be had from death in battle. Granted, there —

*SWISH!*

Reasons and memories are banished the instant the first rebel made the foolish choice of striking first, only to hit nothing but air. White hot pain agony soon sweeps through the same man, stemming from his abdominal region. Blood may be coughed up and perhaps he'd see the blade sticking through him during those last few moments of life. Onimitsu neither knows or cares beyond the knowledge that one enemy was done. He eyed the four others who — after letting the rest of their comerades spread to cover them from the other mercs — chose Onimitsu as their enemy. Dull green eye sweeps past them all, analyzing them all one by one before yanking his blade free of the man he just killed.

What happens next is nothing short but a deadly dance of pointy objects, blades, fist, and feet. The latter two being unleashed mainly by the armored shinobi as he turned each of his attackers insides into their outsides, snapped necks, and shattered limbs. In some cases, they very own spears were turned upon their comerades when they thought attacking his blind spot was a good idea.

"Iron willed! Let them break against us!"

The enemy had become clear to Meruin, his eyes of dark, swirling mists running swiftly with hues of red and black — hues of battle. And they lit with the light of flame streaking his way.
Narrowing swiftly, they focused on the fireball and then the man that it came from. Shinobi. And a focal point of some kind. Either a leader or a reknowned figure. A necessary target. But first that attack must be neutralized so as not to harm those behind him. Four black blades rose in a single swift motion, cutting the fireball into eight sections that the Okumo Elite simply ran through, black chitin seen receding from his chest a moment after he passed through unharmed. And then he took two ground pounding steps and leapt.
A giant, voracious leap that took him right over the head of the leading men and straight towards the commander. Body outstretched, blades at the fore, he traveled to the man with the hopes of simply goring him with the surprise maneuver. But he found an axe deflecting his strike, leaving him to hit the ground in a heavy roll that he came out of in a crouch, facing Noab. Slowly, four blades at the ready, he circled low.

The soldiers facing Onimitsu cry out in agony and anguish as he starts ripping through them, but not despair. Indeed, they rally manfully and remember their training, closing ranks around him for a valiant counter-attack. Unfortunately the slippery conditions cause a couple of them to stumble, and the coordinated assault proves not so effective as it might've been. @.@
Noab holds up his axe, using the broad blade as a shield. It was a simple manuever, all that was needed to stop such a straightforward attack. e.U Noab gives a push to the halted blades before rotating his weapon back into an attack-ready position. He doesn't attack with it yet, though. He knows he's too slow with the hulking chopper to take advantage of that moment. "Son, I don't know what your story is or how strong you think you are, but leaping straight at an enemy over that kind of distance is like saying you have a death wish." Noab glances at Meruin's crouched position and decides to use his closeness to the ground against him. "Not that it matters much, seeing as you've all got to die anyway." Noab tucks his axe under his arm and tries to rapidly go through the seals to bring an earth spike up under Meruin's foot. >.U

Move and live, stop and die. Onimitsu followed this line of thought to the letter after cutting down the last of the spearmen. Although his glances maybe be fleeting, everything he sees is broken down in mind. So far the tide remained in their favor but there was no telling what desperate acts the rebels may resort to in order to at least turn their enemies victory into a pyrrhic one if any at all.
Every few steps made are a fight in themselves thanks to the deluge and scattered remains of the fallen soaking on the ground. Onimitsu presses on…
They close ranks on him, threatening to ensure a long and painful end for him thanks to the very same armor. That dreadful end is mercifully evaded when the first one to slip up thanks to the battlefield condition provides an opening for him to get clear. The leap puts him atop the man's head and with a spine fracturing leap from there, Onimitsu is temporarily free from being surrounded.
They regrouped fast, as to be expected of combat experienced. Unfortunately by that point, Onimitsu is already on the move again, slashing one in passing before kicking him into his fellows. By the time they recover from that one, Onimitsu is gone… and back again, hidden during his approach by a lightning strikes glare until it is too late to avoid being turned into a shish-kabob from Oni's flea drop strike. After that strike he remains hunched over with both hands and feet still held precariously atop the hilt of his Katana, eye aglow with an eiree light and glaring balefully at the soldiers that still remain.

Meruin's face contorts into a rictus of hard hate, eyes on the giant cyclops across from him, the sound of his own men dying to his rear left loud in his ears. There is another focal point in this battle. And they only further turned the tide against his people. Yet another obstacle he would have to mount on his own. Lest this battle be lost in its first moments. He would have to create an opening to depart this match without receiving the hatchet in his back.
But Noab didn't seem as though he was inclined to let him go as he swiftly started through handseals, causing Meruin to circle more swiftly in preparation of avoiding flames. But what he found… was that the man had a /second/ elemental affinity. Shinobi indeed. Meruin found a foot raising under the point of an earthen spear, but the spike wasn't even strong enough to pierce his tough skin due to the rain. Swiftly, his muscles tensed and he stomped the earth back into it's place, narrowing his eyes at Noab.
"If you must nag and prattle about my battle technique, you may to do so from the grave, mercenary." Growl still in the air, he stepped forward, engaging the man and doing so with a flurry of strikes. Four blades, moving in deadly coordination, one attack seamlessly becoming two or more.

The rebel soldiers really are starting to despair now. Not so much in a cowardly run for your life I want my mommy way, but in a I don't have much hope that I can make a difference here anymore and I just want to get it over with way. DX It makes them reckless and disorganized, charging at Onimitsu as single attackers rather than a unified unit.
Noab tries to bring his axe back up to block Meruin's chitin blades, but it's harder when they're not all pointed at the same area. >.U; The four swords flicker about, reaching past Noab's weapon here and there to draw shallow cuts on his skin. Of course, Noab would prefer that they didn't touch him at all…but he accepted long ago that the traits of his clan meant that his best advantage lay not so much in avoiding all damage as being able to take a lot of it and dish out even more. >P Noab waits until he judges that Meruin is too committed to his assault, then shoots an enlarged arm out to push him over and pin him on his back. Then Noab summons up all the chakra he can, and pulls his hand away to form the few necessary seals before BLASTING that hard-shelled nuisance with the biggest and fiercest wave of flame he's capable of! >O

They stood no chance but their bravery and desperation would be rewarded in the form of a swift death. He kicks off from the skewered and dying and dead remains of his last victims and springs high into the air, evading the first horizontal strike directed towards him. The blade sadly had to be abandon the process, but at this point it was unneccessary. As soon as his feet had touched the ground, chakra is gathered to his feet and exploded forward, spinning and slashing with sharp edge of his gauntlet, ducking and maiming low without seeming to slow in the least. But in time, he inevitably slows to a stop at a crouch. It is at that point that those he eviscerated all fell where they last stood.
"It is done."
He stood up slowly and turned to regard what has been done. He should finish him…. but then the glare of light from afar, that which had nothing to do with the weather, forwarns him of things intensifying at the generals end. Onimitsu still waits until the flames have died down a notch before making any decisions. The first is to retrive his blade. The second briefly see if their remaining forces would need help moping up his side. Then lastly, he shall make haste in aiding the big man.

Meruin began dismantling the man's defenses, pressing the giant backwards with the flurry of strikes, more and more of his slashes getting through to land a blow. Child's play, truly. Much less than he'd expected of this battle. So he continued his assault, preparing Noab for a sudden, bleeding death at the end of his four bla—Suddenly, Meruin was on the ground, pinned by a grotesquely enlarged arm from the mercenary commander, only two of his blades crossed at his chest to protect him. And they did nothing against this strength, only pressed into his body.
He let out a phleghmy cough as the hand was removed, two uncrushed arms pushing into the ground to get him rising up. Hate filled eyes found Noab's as he struggled upwards. He hadn't even gained his feet before the wave of flame slammed into him, sending him flying with it's impact and scorching much of the clothing from his body. Cracked, blackened and bleeding skin is what shows beneath that clothing, his hair gone from the blast, leaving him a monster groaning from split lips.
He lay… amidst the corpses of his own men. Amidst the corpses of his goals and… he could not give in yet. Not yet. Iron willed. These men will break against him…
His body rose from the ground as a spire of darkness left his back. He let out a whisper of a breath, agony before chitin burst from the whole of his body, suddenly forming into the shape of a large, spider. His unmoving body appeared at its head and his eyes opened wide as the giant spider began rushing into the men around it, chitin appearing from its form to strike out at all angle against any within his reach as he dashed towards Noab, Onimitsu one such person.

…Well THAT'S an ugly bug. :P Seems this kid's pretty darn tough after all. Noab scowls. He won't be able to use any BIG chakra techniques for a couple minutes, but it looks as though long-range attack might be the best option while it can still be engaged in. Accordingly, Noab puckers his lips and puffs out a tiny dart of flame, aiming for Meruin's face. Unfortunately for him, he made a tactical oversight: it's still raining. -.U; It didn't matter much when he was spewing great balls of fire, but the thin dart sizzles and fizzles into a cloud of embers as it approaches Meruin. Noab will be lucky if it even stings him. XP

Even in the presence of a monstrosity Onimitsu did not quake or halt his actions out of misguided fear. If he is to die, death will be met head on. He leaped, clearing the ligament of chitin and whatever else the Okumo infused in such a limb, then leaped further with it as a spring board sky high. For a brief seconds, the rain seems to stop where the man has ascended. The truth, as it would quickly become clear, is that much of the rain water was being rapidly. Some as a platform that Onimitsu beneath the armored shinobi's boots, the rest, around his sword.
"Suiton: Kanobi no Tatsumaki! (Water Release: Oni Club Tornado)"
He stomps down with the declaration, fliping the platform about and breaking its ability to sustain itself. The rest splashes away under the force of his diagnol leap off it. Twirl, Twirl, and Twirl he did, rapidly honing his water enshrouded bladed into fine, pressurized edge. All of which was to be directed at the giant spider making a mess of what should've been an easy clean up job. Incidently, the blades extensive length might've cut up some of their allies in the process when he got closer to the ground, but hey, they knew the risks of being a merc!

Meruin never even notices the flame that came his way, its impotentence fizzling out against the shell of the giant chitin spider that held his form as its head when he shifted to meet the -other- shinobi bringing water to bare. A pair of spider limbs rose and intercepted the strike, making the water weapon burst apart, leaving a sudden deluge of rain to fall on Meruin and those around him.
There was a heavy thump. The chitinous legs that'd defended against the attacks had broken where the impact was, sitting on the ground. But Meruin had barely even noticed, more chitin having grown in place of what was lost, allowing him to move towards Onimitsu before they had even touched the ground. He lashed out at the shinobi, attacking in a flurry of strikes, smaller legs of serrated shell growing out of the main one to slash in the event of the larger limb's failure to land.

…Noab notes with a wary eye Onimitsu's willingness to engage in…collateral damage. e.U Not that he has too many scruples about it either, but it's something to watch out for. On the plus side, the spider kid seems pretty well distracted by Onimitsu. Noab approaches from behind Meruin and takes a swing at the chitinous psuedo-spider's abdomen with his axe. Maybe it won't do any actual harm to the boy's body, but a good crack in the armor could help, even if it just means he has to spend energy repairing it.

Onimitsu feet is hardly on the ground for a second before the Okumo is on him. Forcing him back after colliding with the blade he held in a high guard to meet the first striking limb. Meruin was relentless. Each time the swordsman managed to draw his blade up to parry, deflect, or simply hold off the attacks, Onimitsu is forced back bit by bit. In time some of those strike glance of his blade and share off both armor and flesh, or even penetrates just deep enough to leave a nice gash in his abdomen before retreating to it's owner side.
If given a moment he could probably patch up the wound and stay fighting strong. Unfortunately against an opponent that sought to completely and utterly destroy you after slaying most if not all his comerads in battle, the chances of being given enough breathing room was non-existant. So he gritted his teeth, gripped his sword a little more tightly, and then charged back into the thick of things. Ever weary along the way of any more suprises out of the okumo until he got within range of landing a more crtical blow against the appearant psuedo-regenerator.

The Okumo felt the reverberation of power as Noab's axe bounced off of his vehicle's shell, not powerful enough to break it but the potency of the strike still felt. It only served to present him with another enemy however. So after a simple parry of Onimitsu's strike with a spider limb, the Okumo retreated in a single, skidding leap, legs gouging rivulets in the ground. He snarled at the two, sparing only a glance back at the center of camp — nearly overrun by those mercenary curs — before a swing of a spider limb lets loose a spray of chitinous shrapnel at the enemy's two greatest.

Noab manages to deflect the bits of shrapnel coming his way with his axe blade. An axe might not afford too many defensive options against quicker melee weapons, but that broad blade sure comes in handy for blocking anything that comes in straight. :P Noab settles his stance and hefts his axe up around his shoulder. Meruin's too far away for a regular axe strike, is he planning to throw it? c.c Not quite! Noab's arms elongate as he swings the weapon, stretching it out to reach to where Meruin is!

Emboldend in spite of his sword arm becoming swore after that last parry, Onimitsu charges right after the Okumo. A reckless charge by all appearance but in truth the swordsman remained keenly aware of his surroundings. Even that proves to nearly be not enough when all he has is a single eye and instinct to really keep him out of abreast of any troubles. Then he sees it. A flash of lightning illuminating the area just enough to distort the image before him and reveal, if only for an instance, the trajectory of most of Meruin's chitinous shrapnel. The projectiles fall one after the other as the armor bearing shinobi deflected them through blade and armor and well timed spining side-step.
The dance of course did not end there, for bearing low he picked up the pace even further, risking falling or being blinded by the chance splattering of mud in his eye. He has no hope of reading Noab's intent without glancing back, so it is by luck and speed he managed to avoid being swept up into the attack by leaping high above it, and slash through the Okumo's chitin as he sailed overhead.

Meruin hadn't known his opponent in the beginning, and though he was not as wary as he should have been, he /was/ studious. He had learned enough of this giant to know that he had the capacity to become an even greater giant, one part at a time. So when the blade flew his way on an extended arm, he was fully prepared to bring a spider leg up and scuttle to the side, parrying the blow so that it might sunder the earth rather than him. He let out a seething breath, unable to fully contrain the pain he felt from every drop of rain that touched his cracked and leaking flesh, scorched by the Akimichi's flames.
But Onimitsu came to clash with him, sailing up to him in a single, powerful leap, forcing him to push past it once more and continue the battle. A new spider leg of chitin sprouted from the shell behind him, clashing with Onimitsu's blade and preventing it from reaching the Okumo. But still the spider let out a muted, anguished scream. The armored man's blow was strong enough to break the chitin where it struck, sending a long shard into Meruin's arm where it remained as he rushed towards Noab. Things were dire. If he had not been so badly wounded in the beginning, then perhaps this could be a victory for him. But he had few hopes to kill these two, let alone to survive and protect… her.
But he'd meant his words. They would pay their passage in blood and over his rent corpse. Onimitsu would destract, it seemed, while Noab provided the most harm, though both were powerful. But he needed to reduce the greater's strength before he could hope for a chance. And so, he drove his large spider straight at the cyclops, a blender of chitinous edges and jaws and claws streaking out to try and rend the man and bring him down to size.

Noab grunts and tries to pull his axe back in. It barely gets back before Meruin, and it isn't much use in blocking the storm of strikes that come. x.U Sooo much stabby-scratchy-slashiness! But as noted before, Noab's accustomed to powering through such abuse. >.U He drops his axe and expands both arms, reaching around to give the giant arachnid a bear hug. Talk about your nightmare scenarios. @.@ But it'll be worth it if he can end this by cracking the shell and crushing its contents. "Ain't gettin' paid enough for this," Noab grunts. XP

Onimitsu lands, skidding along the ground as he spun about to stay facing Meruin. At the rate things were going — He gritted his teeth, forcing down despair. The Okumo's valiant efforts to stay strong in the heat of overwhelming odds was admirable. However…
"Just hold him!" Onimitsu calls out to Noab mid-run. If the Akimichi general can just hold out for a precious few moments and hamper the Okumos ability to move, Onimitsu might just yet make it in time. As he ran the blade became alight with an otherwordly purple light. One that seemed to pull at one's spirit just by looking at it. The Yoshimitsu's bearer learned long ago to avoid looking at the blade when it came to the technique he intended to perform this time.
He leaps high again, only this time with the intent to impale the bastard's actual body after unleashing a flury of strikes to hack away any defenses that rise up to met him.
Lightning flashes behind him…
Onimitsu has become death incarnate.

Yes. Torn flesh, splattered blood, the pain of a fiend.
But it was a victory that died far too young, as the good often do. He soon found himself wrapped in the crushing arms of that Akimichi, the long limbs squeezing. Meruin let out a hiss before his body suddenly seemed to get sucked into the black body of the spider creation.
The arachnid form was crushed in half as the Okumo's body slipped from the chitin on the other side. He looked up, the spider form already swiftly reconstructing itself from that gaping wound, and his eyes widened at wthe sight that greeted him. A sight nearly… confusing.
Onimitsu standing on the other end of the blade in his chest.
Meruin looked down at the steel, too thickly slicked with blood for the rain to clean but losing no hint of that purple sheen despite it. "No…" His hands rose, crackling flesh wrapping around the weapon as though he could remove it from his chest and it would fix everything. He looked up to Onimitsu. "Please… please do not. Please don't take…" Body rigid, the light faded from his eyes as his final whisper slipped from his scorched lips.
"My daughter…"

Oh joy. Collateral Damage-san says 'just hold him'. >.U; Still, not much else Noab can do at the moment. Noab squeezes until the psuedo-spider snaps, then lets go and hops back quickly to assess the situation. Ah, good…Onimitsu got the blasted sucker, who even had the decency to move to somewhere that didn't involve getting Noab stabbed too. :P Noab takes a look around the battlefield…no other really dangerous foes apparent, just grunts being mopped up in the distance. Noab deems it safe enough to light up another cigar. The pleas of the dieing man hold no interest for Noab one way or another; if his client wanted a girl captured or killed, he didn't mention it to him. He just said, crush any resistance…which is what Noab plans to finish doing now. "Gettin' too old fer this," Noab mutters, heading for the rebel base.

Onimitsu doesn't reply. He doesn't move. He does nothing except let the Okumo slowly begin to the wither. When he feels the boy's soul begin to slip from its mortal coils, fragmented as a result of Yoshimitsu's influence — its hunger being sated at the cost of a soul reaped too soon, only then does the swordsman lean in close and whisper into Meruin's ear.
"… Will not be without her father for long. Nor you, without a chance at vengeance." On that note the armored shinobi rips the blade free, allowing the husk that was once a powerful adversary to fall where ever it should. It mattered not anymore. The job was complete by this point. Almost. Onimitsu gives the Akimichi one last lingering look before turning away to head towards the base. He had a promise to keep after all…"